Southern California Gas Co., the utility that owns a natural gas storage well that has been leaking since November, faces criminal charges over the leak and its alleged delay in alerting authorities to the problem.
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A natural gas storage well at Southern California Gas’ Aliso Canyon facility sprung a leak in October, forcing thousands of residents from their homes and spewing massive amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. “We have been working with regulatory agencies to mitigate the odors associated with the natural gas leak and to abate the gas leak as quickly as safety allows”.
U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, a Democrat who lives in Porter Ranch, said Tuesday he plans to introduce legislation created to prevent future gas leaks. More than 4,000 families have temporarily moved out of the community, at gas company expense, because of health concerns – including bloody noses, headaches and dizziness.
Harris says the leak created a public health and statewide environmental emergency. The Los Angeles County Fire Department is heading the investigation into the energy company. It directs operators of underground gas storage facilities such as the SoCal Gas unit in Aliso Canyon to “inspect and take immediate actions to ensure the safety of underground natural gas storage facilities across the country”, according to Marie Therese Dominguez, the agency’s administrator.
A company spokeswoman said it doesn’t comment on pending litigation and was focused on stopping the leak, which it expects to plug by the end of the month. Arraignment is scheduled for February 17 in Santa Clarita, CBS Los Angeles reported. “The damage the gas has caused to residents, the environment, the economy, is unprecedented”.
A second well, experts said, would offer a backup on the off chance that what is widely considered the company’s fail-safe option – a relief well that is now less than 200 feet from intercepting the bottom of the leaky well – runs into trouble. “The more pressure they are under politically, the more reason they have to address residents’ concerns now rather than kick the can down the road by litigating for years”. In addressing the emissions, however, the gas company does not compare findings from other sources of pollution over a similar three-month period. “The devil is in the details”, said Matt Pakucko, founder and president of Save Porter Ranch.
SoCalGas officials have vehemently denied any connection between bill increases and the Porter Ranch leak.
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Tuesday brought a double dose of legal trouble for the Southern California Gas Company as the company was notified of potential criminal charges and a civil lawsuit brought by the state’s attorney general. Los Angeles County joined the suit in January.
